From hot spots owned by celebrity chefs to charming Italian eateries and innovative Mexican favorites, visitors to San Diego can explore the region’s diverse culinary offerings without breaking the bank during San Diego Restaurant Week, Sept. 18 – 23, 2011. The six-day celebration provides food lovers the opportunity to dine at San Diego’s vibrant and distinctive eateries for a fraction of the normal expense. 

Diners can enjoy special three-course, prix fixe dinner menus for just $20, $30 or $40 per person (beverages, tax and gratuity not included) at more than 180 participating restaurants. New this year is San Diego Restaurant Week’s first-ever lunch program, which gives daytime diners the opportunity to feast on special two-course, prix-fixe lunch menus for just $10, $15 or $20 per person (beverages, tax and gratuity not included) at participating restaurants.

Tickets or special passes are not required for San Diego Restaurant Week; however, reservations are strongly recommended with more than 100,000 diners expected to participate. The list of participating restaurants is currently available online, and new menus are being posted daily at www.sandiegorestaurantweek.com. Great hotel rates and other offers can also be found online at www.sandiego.org/restaurantweek.

The California Restaurant Association San Diego County Chapter presents San Diego Restaurant Week twice yearly; a second San Diego Restaurant Week is held each January as part of California Restaurant Month, when more than 20 destinations across California are hosting restaurant week events. Details are available online at www.visitcalifornia.com/restaurantmonth.

Happiness is calling in San Diego. For more information on San Diego offerings, including exciting vacation packages and valuable coupons for attractions, restaurants and more, visit the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau's Web site, www.sandiego.org, or call 619-236-1212. In San Diego, visit the International Visitor Information Center, located along the Embarcadero at the corner of West Broadway and Harbor Drive in downtown; the La Jolla Visitor Center, located at the corner of Herschel Avenue and Prospect Street in La Jolla, and the California Welcome Center, located in the Viejas Outlet Center in Alpine.